Transcript Genetics Gone Bad

Weird
Genetics
Jumping Genes
Mutations
A change in genetic
information
•Can occur randomly
(naturally)
•Can be deliberately caused
in the laboratory by scientists
•Inherited
•Not always harmful
http://www.accessexcellence.org/
Natural Mutations
These are not
albinos; they
have pigmented
eyes
White Bengal
Tiger
ALBINOS
• Little or no pigmentation in the eyes, skin,
and hair (or in some cases in the eyes
alone)
• Inherited an altered copy of a gene that does
not work correctly
• The altered gene does not allow the body to
make the usual amounts of a pigment called
"melanin"
• True albinos have pink eyes and skin
White Bluebonnets
Pink Bluebonnets
HUMAN INTERVENTION
SELECTIVE BREEDING
The selection of certain
seeds or animals for
reproduction in order to
influence the traits inherited
by the next generation
SELECTIVE BREEDING
• Liger - result of breeding a female TIGER to a male
LION
• Has stripes and spots - stripes inherited from tiger
parent; spots from lion parent
• On their hind legs, ligers stand approximately 12 feet
tall. At most, ligers may weigh up to 1,000 pounds
The Cama is the result of breeding a
Llama to a Camel
Parents in background of picture
The Zebroid is the result
of breeding
a female Horse and a
male Zebra
The Zedonk / Zonkey
is the result of
breeding
a female Donkey and
male Zebra
Geep - These are the result of a sheep
and a goat
The Mule is the result of breeding a female horse
(mare) to a male donkey (jack). The
mule is superior to the horse in strength,
endurance, intelligence and disease resistance.
Maroon & Red Bluebonnets
GENETIC ENGINEERING
The selective, deliberate change of
genes (genetic material) by man
The technique of removing,
modifying or adding genes to a DNA
molecule in order to change the
information it contains
Bright face of genetically modified corn plant: pestinfected non-GM (left) and pest-free GM plant (right)
planted side-by-side in a field trial. (photo: Dr. Yu
Jialin, China Agricultural University)
French genetic researchers created Alba for artist Eduardo Kac.
Thanks to genes borrowed from a jellyfish, the albino rabbit glows
green when placed under special lighting. In regular light, Alba
appears like any other furry white rabbit. But place her under a
black light, and her eyes, whiskers and fur glow a otherworldly
green.
“Glow
in the dark fish. these genetically modified fish
were developed by a Taiwanese aquatic firm, Taikong
Group. They are planning to reproduce these fish in
numbers and sell them for pets.
http://www.fluorescentpets.com/index.htm
Scientists in the agriculture department of the
Hebrew University in
Rehovot have genetically engineered a chicken
that has no feathers.